Infant&#39;s garment



Dec. 28 ,1926. Y 1,612,451-

| K. LINDLEY INFANTS GARMENT Filed Jan. 28. 1926 lav/g1. y 2

Patented Dec. zs, 1926.

STATES LOUISE K. LIHDLEY, 0F CHARLEVOIX, IvIICHIGAN.

INFANES GARMENT.

Application filed. January 28, 1926.

The inv ition relatcsto a novel form of garment for newborn andrelatively young children and has for its object to provide a garment soformed as to be spread fiat, the in fant placed thereon and the severalportions of the garment folded and wl pped about the torso, includingthe abdo i and the arms, in such manner as to constitute a relativelysnug fitting abdominal bandage, but without interfering with the normalaction of the heart and lungs. To this end, the invention comprises agarment, preferably formed with two sections of cloth united in themiddle section of the back to form a double thickness over the spinalregion, two free flaps. adapted to be overlapped to form the front ofthe garment, a neck opening intermediate the front and back portions,which opening is completed by the closing of the front forming iiaps,foldable sleeve forming sections extending substantially normal to theintermediate section of the body portion, and lateral flaps extendingfrom the lower portion of the back, each flap having a curved upper edgemerging into the back adjacent to the sleeve forming sections, saidflaps being adapted to be folded in lapped relation over the abdomenalone to form, with the lower portion of the back, an abdominal bandage.

T he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of an infant wearing the garment.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the complete garment in spread relation toreceive the infant.

Referring to the drawings, the body portion proper of the garmentcomprises a back section, including members 1, 1,'which are overlappedand united by stitching i, l longitudinally of the center of the back,so as to overlie the spinal region from the neck down, and a frontsection comprising two free flaps 2, 2, which are of substantially thesame length as the back section and are adapted to be lapped over thefront of the body from the neck downward. Intermediate the front andback sections and in substantially the center of the fashioned garment,when in spread relation, is a neck opening 5, which is closed when thefront flaps are brought into overlapping relation.

Extending from the mid portion of the body portion are two sleeveforming sections 6, the lower edge of each section being Serial No.84,366.

gathered at an intermediate portion to form an elbow receiving fullness7.

Each of the back forming sections 1, l is provided with a lateralextension or flap 8, the lower marginal edge of which is an ertension ofthe bottom 11 of the back and the upper edge is cut on a curve as at 9,sothat the upper edge of each flap 8 gradually merges into the back ator about the junction of the sleeve forming sections with the bodyportion. Ordinarily, the flaps or extensions 8 will extend laterallyfrom the heck of the garment approximately the same distance as thesleeves, but, if desired,

these flaps may be made considerably longer.

The edges of the fashioned garment are preferably bound with tape or thelike, as indicated at 11, to which is secured suitable fasteningdevices, such as the usual form of snap fasteners 12, which are appliedto the edges of the sleeve forming sections and the neck envelopingedges.

In applying the garment to a newborn infant, or small child, the garmentis spread out flat and the infant laid thereon on its back. The frontforming flaps 2, 2 are then folded over the front portion of the bodyand the neck opening closed by the fastening devices; the sleeve formingsections 6, 6

are wrapped about the arms and he edges connected by the snap fasteners12, after which the lateral flaps 8, forming extensions of the lowerportion of the back, are folded successively over the abdomen, and theupper section secured to the lower section by suitable pins, or thelike, so that said lateral flaps 8 and the lower portion of the backconstitute an abdominal bandage, which envelopes the abdomen alone andholds the garment in its properly adjusted position to resist anytendency to work upward. The curved upper edges of the flaps 8, when theflaps are wrapped relatively tight over the abdomen, tend to support beback of the infant and assist in maintaining the garment in its properlyadjusted position. These flaps, when in folded relation, however,exercise no pressure upon the chest of the infant, so that the garmentdoes not interfere, in any way, with the free action of the heart andlungs, but, on the other hand, the flaps, when operating with the lowerportion of the back as an abdominal band, may be drawn tight enough toserve the usual and necessary functions of the abdominal band, which isgenerally applied as a separate element. It will be seen, therefore,that the garment includes the equivalent of the usual shirt envelopingthe entire torso and the arms, together with an integral abdominal bandformed in part by the lower portion of the back and in part by thelateral flaps, which latter may be folded over the abdomen with thenecessary degree of pressure to prevent protrusions, ruptures and thelike, but which abdominal band will not, in any way, interfere with thenormal action of the heart and lungs. t will also be noted that thegarment may be quickly applied and removed from the infant by a seriesof simple folding and unfolding operations, so that exposure of theinfant may be reduced to a minimum.

What I claim is:

1. An infants garment comprising a back portion, a front portionincluding free overlapping flaps, with a neck opening intermediate thefront and back, foldable sleeve forming sections extending substantiallynormal to the front and back, and lateral flaps extending from the lowerportion of the back each having an upper edge curving upwardlythroughout substantially itsent-ire extent and merging into the backadjacent the sleeve forming sections, the lower portion of said backportion and said flaps cooperating to form an abdominal band.

2. An infants garment comprising a body portion fashioned from twoblanks including overlapping sewed sections forming a double thicknessover the spinal region of the back, centrally overlapping free flapsconstituting the front, foldable sleeve forming sections extendinglaterally from the intermediate portions of the blanks, a centrallydisposed neck opening, and lateral flaps extending from the lowerportion of the back each having an upper edge curving upwardlythroughout substantially its entire extent and merging into the backadjacent the sleeve forming sections, the lower portion of said backportion and said flaps cooperating to form an abdominal band.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUISE K. LINDLEY.

